The Break Down

Pros
Excellent character study
Cons
The protagonist is less than perfect
The Bottom Line
Guy de Maupassant’s story has stood the test of time and is as relevant today as when Maupassant wrote it in the late nineteenth century.
An Introduction

Guy de Maupassant’s short story “The Necklace” weaves a tale about Madame Mathilde Loisel who dreams of the finer things of life and is not content with her secure, middle class lifestyle. The price she pays for a single evening of elegance turns into years of drudgery and despair. This is a story that has stood the test of time and is as relevant today as when Maupassant wrote it in the late nineteenth century.
The Plot Begins

The plot begins with a description of the protagonist, Mathilde, a young lady born into a family with little means, and who marries a gentleman who is employed as a clerk. The setting of this story is ...